Blue wildrye is a large perennial bunchgrass. It is very tall (up to 5 feet) with an upright growth habit and just a few stems per plant. It is similar in stature and growth habit to slender wheatgrass. The leaf blades are thin and flat, ranging from 4-12mm (.2-.5 inch) wide. Leaf color changes from green to blue green, with a white waxy coating. Frosts induce dormancy.

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==Bloom Period==

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May-July

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==Distribution==

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Blue wildrye is found from California to Alaska and also the Great Plains and northern Mexico. Check a reputable database for current distribution.

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==Habitat==

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Open areas, native prairie, chaparral, woodland and forest. Blue wildrye is tolerant of partial shade and soil textures ranging from loam to clay, moist to dry, and well-drained soils. Low moisture use – high drought tolerance.

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This plant has demonstrated moderate sensitivity to saline soils.

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Its successional Status is that blue wildrye is typically favored by disturbance.

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==Uses==

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'''Site Rehabilitation''': A desirable species for use in erosion control. Blue wildrye is good for streambank restoration, meadow and swale seeding. It is also excellent for reseeding burned or disturbed areas in oak woodland or forest. Blue wildrye is not recommended to be seeded alone in revegetation plantings, and it should not make up more than 50% of the seed mix.

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'''Wildlife''': Blue wildrye can also provide excellent wildlife habitat for mammals, birds, and waterfowl. It provides good forage early in the season, but later, may be too coarse and stemmy.

'''First Nations''': Blue wildrye has similar uses as creeping wild rye, primarily as a cereal grain. It is less desirable for basketry as the nodes are thick, but this does not exclude its use in some baskets. Similar to creeping wildrye, there may be some ceremonial uses of blue wildrye.

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==Propagation==

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see Plant Materials Technical Note No. 17, from USDA in Portland, OR to Natural Resources Conservation Service ([[Media:ElGl USDA Seed Increase.pdf|"Seed Production of Blue Wildrye"]], April 1996)

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[[File:ELGL_LisaHintz_sd_2012.jpg|300px|thumb|right|''Elymus glaucus'' seeds, image by Lisa Hintz, taken at the Evergreen State College Olympia Campus.]]

Description

Blue wildrye is a large perennial bunchgrass. It is very tall (up to 5 feet) with an upright growth habit and just a few stems per plant. It is similar in stature and growth habit to slender wheatgrass. The leaf blades are thin and flat, ranging from 4-12mm (.2-.5 inch) wide. Leaf color changes from green to blue green, with a white waxy coating. Frosts induce dormancy.

Bloom Period

May-July

Distribution

Blue wildrye is found from California to Alaska and also the Great Plains and northern Mexico. Check a reputable database for current distribution.

Habitat

Open areas, native prairie, chaparral, woodland and forest. Blue wildrye is tolerant of partial shade and soil textures ranging from loam to clay, moist to dry, and well-drained soils. Low moisture use – high drought tolerance.

This plant has demonstrated moderate sensitivity to saline soils.
Its successional Status is that blue wildrye is typically favored by disturbance.

Uses

Site Rehabilitation: A desirable species for use in erosion control. Blue wildrye is good for streambank restoration, meadow and swale seeding. It is also excellent for reseeding burned or disturbed areas in oak woodland or forest. Blue wildrye is not recommended to be seeded alone in revegetation plantings, and it should not make up more than 50% of the seed mix.

Wildlife: Blue wildrye can also provide excellent wildlife habitat for mammals, birds, and waterfowl. It provides good forage early in the season, but later, may be too coarse and stemmy.

First Nations: Blue wildrye has similar uses as creeping wild rye, primarily as a cereal grain. It is less desirable for basketry as the nodes are thick, but this does not exclude its use in some baskets. Similar to creeping wildrye, there may be some ceremonial uses of blue wildrye.